Developing a method for customized induction of flowering

Yeoh, Chin Chin; Balcerowicz, Martin; Laurie, Rebecca E.; Macknight, Richard C.; Putterill, Joanna

doi:10.1186/1472-6750-11-36

Cited by 36 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(61 reference statements)

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“…As the gene evolutionary process occurred independently in nearly all modern angiosperm lineages, it is essential to determine the spatiotemporal pattern of ectopic FT expression to minimize its negative effect on normal vegetative growth in plants [21]. An alternative way is to induce expression of FT-like proteins by using, for example, an ethanolinducible promoter [21,22]. Controllable flowering allows the synchronization of fruit set and collection, thus reducing labor cost, although more research is needed on the feasibility of chemical induction on an industrial scale.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The JatrophaFT ortholog is a systemic signal regulating growth and flowering time

Jian

Geng

Zhang

et al. 2014

Biotechnol Biofuels

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Background: Jatropha curcas is being promoted as a new bioenergy crop in tropical and subtropical regions due to its high amount of seed oil and its potential capacity to grow on marginal land for biofuel production. However, the productivity of the plant is constrained by the unfavorable flowering time and inflorescence architecture, which render harvesting of seeds time-consuming and labor-intensive. These flowering-related traits have limited further widespread cultivation of Jatropha.Results: We identified a Jatropha curcas homolog of Flowering locus T (JcFT) and demonstrated its function by genetic complementation of the Arabidopsis ft mutant. The JcFT expression level was found to be remarkably correlated with leaf age. Overexpression of JcFT in Jatropha reduced flowering time and altered plant architecture by producing more branches. Grafting experiments suggested that the earlyflowering and alteration of plant architecture traits were graft-transmissible. We also showed that the FT-overexpressing transgenic Jatropha can be used as a root stock for grafting of scions derived from other Jatropha. Conclusion:We generated early flowering transgenic Jatropha plants that accumulate higher levels of the florigen FT. Not only early flowering but also plant growth was affected in JcFT overexpression lines. More seeds can be produced in a shorter time frame by shortening the flowering time in Jatropha, suggesting the possibility to increase seed yield by manipulating the flowering time.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The JatrophaFT ortholog is a systemic signal regulating growth and flowering time

Jian

Geng

Zhang

et al. 2014

Biotechnol Biofuels

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“…Our database searches for putative Medicago flowering-time genes revealed five FT-like genes, MtFTLa to MtFTLe (Hecht et al, 2005;Liew et al, 2009;Yeoh et al, 2011). Phylogenetic analysis of FT/TFL proteins from other plants showed that all five Medicago FTs belonged to the FT clade and that, in legumes, this clade consists of three groups of FT proteins, which we have called groups FTa, FTb, and FTc (Fig.…”

Section: Medicago Has Five Ft-like Genesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The MedicagoFLOWERING LOCUS THomolog,MtFTa1, Is a Key Regulator of Flowering Time

et al. 2011

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FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) genes encode proteins that function as the mobile floral signal, florigen. In this study, we characterized five FT-like genes from the model legume, Medicago (Medicago truncatula). The different FT genes showed distinct patterns of expression and responses to environmental cues. Three of the FT genes (MtFTa1, MtFTb1, and MtFTc) were able to complement the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ft-1 mutant, suggesting that they are capable of functioning as florigen. MtFTa1 is the only one of the FT genes that is up-regulated by both long days (LDs) and vernalization, conditions that promote Medicago flowering, and transgenic Medicago plants overexpressing the MtFTa1 gene flowered very rapidly. The key role MtFTa1 plays in regulating flowering was demonstrated by the identification of fta1 mutants that flowered significantly later in all conditions examined. fta1 mutants do not respond to vernalization but are still responsive to LDs, indicating that the induction of flowering by prolonged cold acts solely through MtFTa1, whereas photoperiodic induction of flowering involves other genes, possibly MtFTb1, which is only expressed in leaves under LD conditions and therefore might contribute to the photoperiodic regulation of flowering. The role of the MtFTc gene is unclear, as the ftc mutants did not have any obvious flowering-time or other phenotypes. Overall, this work reveals the diversity of the regulation and function of the Medicago FT family.

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“…The most feasible explanation for these observations is the difference in size and physiology of annual plants and shrubs compared to trees, may impact on the long-distance signal speed and effectiveness. Alternatively, FT protein may not be transported from source leaf into the shoot apex, but into other, closer or stronger sinks.Turning to applications, the hope is that detailed knowledge and testing of FT and TFL1-like genes will allow customisation of aspects of plant flowering, architecture, growth and yield from annuals to woody perennials [1,2,19,27]. For example, this has been demonstrated with fruit yield in tomato [60].…”

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confidence: 99%